Part 5 (1/2)
”That strange man with the bushy eyebrows and the pointed chin must have helped him to get away,” was Nellie's comment.
”So we think,” answered Tom.
”But who was he?” questioned her sister.
”That's a conundrum we can't answer,” returned Sam. ”I think he was waiting around with that auto, and as soon as the fire started Crabtree saw the chance he wanted and got out.”
”Maybe Crabtree started the fire?” suggested Dora.
”No, that was purely an accident--so the jailer says. The wind blew a curtain against a lamp and the burning curtain fell into some excelsior in a box of new dishes. The excelsior made quite a blaze and a lot of smoke, and everybody in the jail was badly frightened for a while.”
After that the talk became general, and quite unconsciously d.i.c.k and Dora strolled off by themselves, down towards a tiny brook that flowed past the campus grounds.
”You must be very careful, Dora, now that Crabtree is at liberty,”
said the eldest Rover boy. ”I wouldn't have him run off with you again for the world,” he added, tenderly.
”I shall watch out, d.i.c.k,--and I'll make the others watch out, too.”
And then, as he squeezed her hand, she added, in a lower voice: ”How is that other matter coming along?”
”Not very well, Dora,” and d.i.c.k's face became more serious than ever.
”Can't your father manage it?”
”I don't think so. You see, he isn't in very good health--he breaks down every once in a while. Those business matters worry him a great deal.”
”Can't your uncle help him?”
”No, Uncle Randolph means well, but he is no business man--he showed that when he allowed those men to swindle him out of those bonds,”
went on d.i.c.k, referring to an event which has been related in detail in ”The Rover Boys on the Farm.”
”But what can you do, d.i.c.k?” questioned the girl, earnestly.
”I think I'll have to quit college and take up the matter myself,”
answered d.i.c.k Rover.
CHAPTER IV
THE END OF THE ”DARTAWAY”
”Quit college? Oh, d.i.c.k, do you want to do that?”
”Not exactly, Dora--and yet I don't think I am exactly fitted for a professional career. That seems to be more in Tom and Sam's line. I like business, and I'd enjoy getting into something big, something worth while. I think I could handle those matters, if father would only let me try. And then there is another thing, Dora,” went on the youth, looking squarely into his companion's face. ”Perhaps you can guess what that is.”
She blushed deeply.
”What?” she whispered.